Terry Tate Gets Political

I think we know who Terry is voting for:


Just in case you weren't voting:


One more should do:


[Terry Tate]

"Oh There's Losers. . ."

A 43-year old Tokyo woman has been arrested for killing her "on-line" husband in the (supposedly) popular game Second Life. This is just sad so I'll link the story after the clip.




[Chi Sun-Times]

And That's When Show and Tell Went Downhill. . .

On the heels of one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in Europe, England has made sex education mandatory in schools-even kindergarten. Apparently eating crayons and stealing each other's toys have fallen below nasty kindergarten sexual escapades and rampant pre-pubescent pregnancy.

‘‘It’s vital that this information doesn’t come from playground rumor or the mixed
messages from the media about sex,’’ Schools Minister Jim Knight said Thursday,
announcing that sex ed would be added to the national curriculum.

I went to a catholic grade school but I can only imagine that public school kindergarten playground rumor was also something like this: "Billy likes Suzie." "Ewww Suzie has cooties." Living in the same house as a 5 year old and a 10 year old I can attest that I've never heard either of them reference anything sexual. 5 years old is just too early to bring sex education into schools.

I think more of that money they're using to implement sex ed would be better served on dental care or just write me the checks each month.

[Chicago Sun-Times]

Garden > Decades of (Clergy) Abuse

So the catholic church is looking to finally start making amends with its many abuse victims. Apparently the first step is a garden. Yup, that's write folks, a garden. The Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland, California figured some good ole' fashioned greenery should do the trick:

"Part of the church's mission is to make sure we bring healing to people who are
in need of it, even if we were the cause of it," he says. "Having this garden on
the campus says we are serious about our desire to help in your healing process
on whatever level. As this cathedral will be around for 500 years, so will that
garden as a place of healing and hope."

So not only can you throw money to cover up clergy abuse but it turns out some dirt and plants work just as well. At least it's not this.

[CNN.com]

Trick or Treat-Or Jail

So it's almost that time once again where kids get dressed up in elaborate costumes to go get free candy throughout their neighborhood. That is unless you live in sexual predator land. Local law enforcement agencies all around the country are cracking down on sex offenders in a variety of ways:

"South Carolina has a 5 p.m. Halloween curfew for sex offenders on
probation or
parole. They cannot give out candy or have their outdoor lights
on.

Texas requires registered sex offenders to turn off their porch lights
and prohibits
them to have any exterior decorations between 5 p.m. and 5
a.m., with parole,
probation and police officers checking to see if they
comply."

Some see this as the right step and some see this as further punishing those that may have paid their dues already and are abiding by their parole terms. Personally you can't single out those that have been wrongfully convicted or are law abiding. So why not just blanket all sex offenders with regulations on their lives? It worked with the Patriot Act right?

Either way I think we all are missing the point here. We overlook the fact we celebrate All Saint's Eve or All Hallow's Eve by dressing up as the opposite of a saint-a devil or ghost from hell or purgatory. That's why this year on Christmas eve I'm going to dress up in traditional Jewish attire.

(Of course I believe that's the predator in reference here)

[Chicago Sun-Times]